Education: Birth to Third Grade

Love working with young children? This major will prepare you to make a difference in a critical period in a child’s life, setting the stage for a lifetime of learning. You’ll learn how to nurture kids’ intellectual and social-emotional growth and foster essential life skills.

As the national teaching shortage continues, teaching remains a stable profession with strong job prospects. Alverno also offers specializations that will make you even more marketable, including a certificate through the our Early Childhood Outdoor Preschool Environmental Education Program, the first nature-based early childhood education program targeted to urban settings in the United States.

The Alverno difference

There’s no better place to study education: Alverno has won numerous national awards for its innovative practices, outstanding teaching and high classroom engagement. Educators from around the world visit Alverno’s campus to study our abilities-based curriculum and groundbreaking approach to learning and assessment. Our emphasis on real-world skills and insightful, personalized feedback will push you to achieve your full potential, and you’ll learn how to bring this effective approach to your own classroom.

You’ll thrive in small classes led by faculty who have deep experience as current or former early childhood teachers. You’ll explore how you learn best, plus learn how to lead and engage students with different learning styles. You’ll get hands-on experience in real classrooms early and often, ensuring you’re ready to step up to the front of the classroom with confidence. You’ll also have the opportunity to observe young children at Alverno’s nationally accredited Early Learning Center, where you might work as a classroom assistant.

"I’m studying education because I love children and have always been passionate about helping them learn! I have done some field experiences in elementary classrooms and have learned so much already. I can clearly see and make connections with all my learning experiences at Alverno, as they come to life when I step into these classrooms in our community. Everything I’m learning is being modeled in these schools, and it’s amazing."

— Sinah, Early Childhood/Elementary Education major

Licensure options

After you graduate, you’ll be eligible for a Wisconsin license to teach children from birth through third grade — expanding your career options to daycares, preschools and elementary schools. If you opt for a minor in special education and/or teaching English language learners, you’ll be eligible for those additional licenses.

Coursework

All Alverno students must complete 120 credits to earn a bachelor’s degree. You’ll begin your education courses during your freshman year, as well as your general education requirements. You’ll study lifespan development; teaching, learning and assessing; understanding the young child; exceptional learners; literacy in early and middle childhood; and more.

Field education

Alverno is connected to more than 150 private and public schools throughout metro Milwaukee and beyond. Field experiences are usually 4–5 hours a week and combine observation and teaching experience, building so that you’re teaching more and more as you progress through the program. You’ll clock more than 250 hours of classroom practice through your field experiences, which will prepare you for the culmination of your major: full-time student teaching.

Career opportunities

Alverno-educated teachers are in high demand because school leaders across the region recognize that our graduates are exceptionally well-trained. This degree will prepare you for a career as a K-3 classroom teacher, daycare or preschool teacher, reading and math interventionist, tutor, peer mentor and more.

Admission requirements

Your first step is to apply for admission to Alverno by completing a free application at alverno.edu/apply. You should mark your intended major as early childhood/elementary education.

For your first two years at Alverno, you’ll be matched with a professional academic advisor who gets to know you and guides you through your education, helping you chart your path and register for classes. As a junior, you’ll be paired with a faculty advisor who will support your success to graduation.

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